C. S. Harris (1)

This was a really good book and important to the build-up of the characters. One of the techniques this author brings is an ability to narrate from both Sebastian's POV and Kat without detracting from the overall flow of the plot.

As the book opens, young Dominic Stanton is riding to his mother's for a dinner party, and in typical series fashion is waylaid and killed. His body is later gruesomely hung in public, and Sir Henry Lovejoy, the local magistrate, is brought in to begin the investigation. And of course he calls in Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, to assist him.

When more bodies of young men are found, some mutilated and some not, then Bow Street decides to take over the investigation, St. Cyr has to rely on young Tom and himself for the most immediate searches. Which lead him to the upper echelons of British society and a retired ship's captain who seems to have fallen into the bottle. And while St. Cyr was fighting abroad, a trial happened about a ship that floundered on its return from India by this ship's captain.

Also we begin to learn more about the character and motivations of St. Cyr's lover, Kat, a beauty of the London stage and also a spy against England. While she does not care about Napoleon per se, she is Irish by birth and upbringing, and therefore despises the English for what they have done to her homeland.

Revelations come to light, sea voyages are examined, and even Lord Jarvis makes his presence known. As he does. And the title? It comes from the John Donne poem, and provides a clue about the murders in a literary twist.… (plus d'informations)

I received this ARC from Berkley - I was beyond thrilled when notified I'd won a copy in the Goodreads draw. This entry in the series does not disappoint. Sebastian finds uncomfortable parallels between his life and that of the (first) murder victim, the disgraced son of an earl. Hero continues her interviews with London's less fortunate while helping with the investigation. There were twists I did not see coming and one twist I expected that never happened! This is one of my favorite series and it's hard to believe this is the 15th installment. I've enjoyed every one and look forward to my yearly dose of St. Cyr.

slight slight spoiler below

My only disappointment is that this entry in the series did not feature any new developments in the whereabouts of Sebastian's mother and biological father. Throw me a bone here!… (plus d'informations)